YOUNGSTOWN, Oh. - After a season-high 12 inning game against Cleveland State in their opening game of the day, the Golden Grizzlies were primed for a 2023 Horizon League Championship game rematch against the Northern Kentucky Norse. While not the championship game, this game carried a similar amount of pressure, with the winner advancing to see another day in this year's tournament and the loser seeing their season come to an end.
After a first game where she threw 161 pitches, Campbell returned to the circle for the start in game two, marking the second time this season she has pitched two games in a single day, the other being on Apr. 17 in a home double header against IUPUI.
The Norse struck first, putting runs on the board in the top of the first inning as Ella LeMonier started the game with a single up the middle. After a groundout for out number one, Olivia Pastin sent an RBI double to left field as NKU jumped to an early 1-0 lead. A pop out and ground out ended the top of the inning, keeping the damage minimal for the Golden Grizzlies.
The Golden Grizzlies responded, heating up the bats in the bottom of the opening inning. Maci Brown earned a one-out single, setting up Krizka for a big at bat. The power hitter of the lineup showcased her home run hitting ability, blasting a two run bomb to center field as Oakland gained the lead 2-1. Still with one out, Reese Ruhlman, Taylor Carraway, and Kam Troyer drew three consecutive walks, loading the bases with just one out. The Golden Grizzlies continued to keep sharp eyes at the plate as Madi Herrington drew a fourth straight walk, bringing home a run as Oakland took the lead 3-1 and prompting a pitching change for NKU, swapping Lauryn Hicks for Brooklyn Ballis in the circle.
In the top of the third NKU would inch closer to Oakland as Ella LeMonier reached on an error, eventually stealing second base. Jena Rhoads slapped an RBI single up the middle, scoring LeMonier as they pulled closer with a score of 3-2. Maddie Lacer hit another single for the Norse, loading the bases and setting up a game-tying RBI single to right field by Trinity Robertson, tying the game at three runs each. With all the momentum, NKU continued to scratch away at the lead, eventually taking the lead on a third consecutive single as Sydni Barnes lobbed an RBI into right field, putting the Norse in the lead 4-3. Campbell registered her third strikeout of the game to end the inning and get out of the bases loaded jam, turning the game back over to the Oakland bats in the bottom of the third.
In the top of the fourth NKU continued poking singles through the Oakland gaps, using three straight to start the inning to load the bases. With one out, Reese Ruhlman made her second heads up play of the game at the third base corner, tagging third and quickly throwing to Krizka at the plate to secure the inning-ending double play, keeping the deficit at one run, trailing 3-4.
In her first at bat of the game, Lexi Grammatico started the bottom of the fifth with a leadoff single to left field, marking Oakland's first hit since the first inning. She replaced Brooklyn Plitz, who earlier in the game landed awkwardly on first base trying to beat a groundout. With Allisa DiPrima pinch running for Grammatico, she advanced to second on a Maci Brown grounder, placing the tying run in scoring position and the go-ahead run at the plate. Back-to-back lineouts to second base ended the inning, keeping Oakland scoreless in the frame with the tying run left on base.
The Norse kept on going, igniting a two out rally as Rhoads reached on an error at second base. Pastin knocked hit number three of the game with an RBI double to left field, moving the NKU lead back up to two runs at 5-3. Robertson added one more run with an RBI single up the heart of the infield, scoring Pastin for a 6-3 Norse lead. Just like Robertson, Barnes slapped a single up the middle of the infield. After Kamryn Troyer threw home to Krizka for a called inning-ending out, the play went to review where obstruction was called on Krizka at home, ruling the runner safe and adding a run to NKU's tally as they led 7-3. Jenna Johnston made a force out play at second to end the top half of the inning.
Down to their last three outs in the bottom of the seventh, Oakland's season was now on the line and up to their hitters. Johnston began the frame with a double, immediately giving Oakland a fighting chance. Maggie Murphy came through in her first at-bat first pitch swinging, hitting a single to center field, placing runners on the corner as the Golden grizzlies refused to go down without a fight. Brown closed the deficit with an RBI groundout, hitting a ball to first base that allowed Johnston to score and cut the lead to 4-7. Krizka would fly out to left field, putting Ruhlman up to the plate with two outs. Ruhlman would fly out to shortstop, ending the game as Oakland fell 4-7.
Five Golden Grizzlies tallied a hit this game, with the biggest one being Krizka's two-run home run. Campbell threw a total of 19 innings between two games today, giving it her all in her final games of her career.
This Oakland team fought through adversity all season, and although their season came to an untimely end, the effect of this season and roster will be felt throughout Oakland Softball history.
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